Assessment of disk displacements of the temporomandibular joint

Ana Carolina Ramos Mariz,Paulo Sérgio Flores Campos,Carlos Maurício Cardeal Mendes,Maria Olívia Dias Gonzalez,Viviane Almeida Sarmento,Jurandyr Panella

doi:10.1590/s1806-83242005000100012

Ana Carolina Ramos Mariz, Paulo Sérgio Flores Campos + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1590/s1806-83242005000100012

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Abstract

The aim of the present research was to evaluate disk displacements (DDs) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) among patients referred for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and analyze the type and prevalence of DD, gender, age, side distribution, reciprocal clicking, presence of pain, range of mouth opening movement, and dental condition. The sample comprised 113 patients, 12-78 years old (the age average was 36.4 +/- 13.5 years), 92 females and 21 males, who underwent MRI between July 2001 and December 2002. A Signa Horizon system (GE) MRI scanner was used at a magnetic field magnitude of 1.5 T with a bilateral radiofrequency surface coil (6.5 x 6.5 cm). Twenty-three (20.4%) patients were found to be normal, whereas 90 (79.7%) presented with DD. Anterior DD (61.1%) was the most common type of articular disk displacement. Males and females were equally affected (no statistically significant difference). We did not find a statistically significant association between DD and increased age. Bilateral DD (70%) was the most common DD occurrence. We found a statistically significant association between reciprocal clicking and anterior DD with reduction. We did not find a statistically significant association between DD and pain, be it articular or facial pain, otalgia or cephalgia. We found a statistically significant association between anterior DD without reduction and mouth opening limitation. With regard to oral condition, we did not find a statistically significant association between DD and loss of teeth.

Highlights

Internal derangement (ID) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is characterized by an abnormal relationship between the articular disk and the condyle, the glenoid fossa, and the articular eminence[20]. It is mostly caused by disk displacement (DD) and jeopardizes the function of the TMJ9, disk displacements (DDs) may be present without TMJ dysfunction
Of the total sample of 113 patients, 90 (79.7%) patients presented with DD
This result is similar to the results of Ishigaki et al.[7] (1992) (72.2%) and Paesani et al.[14] (1992) (78%), who worked with arthrography and arthrography plus magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), respectively

Summary

Introduction

Internal derangement (ID) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is characterized by an abnormal relationship between the articular disk and the condyle, the glenoid fossa, and the articular eminence[20] It is mostly caused by disk displacement (DD) and jeopardizes the function of the TMJ9, DD may be present without TMJ dysfunction. Magnetic resonance (MR) images give information about the cortical and medullary bones[8,12,13], disk degeneration and articular effusion[12], and about the bilaminar zone[12,19]. For these reasons, MRI is the gold standard for the diagnosis of ID12,21

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